Brothers face backlash over euthanasia

The Catholic bishops of Belgium have said they oppose euthanasia for mentally ill patients, saying such a step “attacks the very foundations of our civilisation”.

Their statement comes amid a wide backlash against a decision by the Belgian branch of the Brothers of Charity to allow euthanasia in its psychiatric hospitals.

The move was condemned by Brother René Stockman, the superior general of the order. He said he had made a formal request to the Brothers to reverse the decision and had contacted the Vatican about it.

He told Catholic News Service that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, was personally investigating the matter.

The bishops said: “We cannot agree that euthanasia [should be] practised on psychiatric patients who are not terminally ill.

“Our point of view does not mean that we want to leave the person in pain. The mental suffering may be immense and a person may find himself totally desperate and without any hope – but it is precisely in this situation that we must remain close to him and not abandon him.

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